VESSEL REVIEW | General Marshall – Seventh dredger joins Callan Marine’s waterway maintenance fleet

Galveston, Texas-based dredging and marine construction company Callan Marine recently welcomed a newbuild large cutter suction dredger (CSD) to its fleet.

Named after famed American World War II general and former US Secretary of State George C. Marshall, General Marshall was built by DSC Dredge at its facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi. It is the seventh dredger to join the current active fleet of Callan Marine, which also includes two DSC Dredge-built CSDs that are designed for maintenance and improvement dredging in both deep and shallow waters.

The CSD has a length of 194 feet (59.1 metres), a beam of 41 feet (12.5 metres), a draught of only four feet (1.2 metres), a depth of seven feet (2.1 metres), and a diesel-electric arrangement with a total installed power of 3,005 hp (2,240 kW), allowing dredging to be performed at depths of up to 60 feet (18.2 metres). The dredging equipment consists of a pipe with a suction and discharge diameter of 18 inches (457 mm) and a 300hp (223kW) cutter.

The CSD is also fitted with a US Coast Guard-certified AIS, VHF radios, and wifi and mobile phone connectivity. The vessel has also been customised to have onboard spaces such as separate offices for the captain and the chief engineer, a survey office, a crew break room, and a storage area, as these were not included in the original design.

For enhanced efficiency during dredging operations, General Marshall relies on production automation and monitoring systems, dedicated survey software, and a dredge quality management system. All data gathered on operational parameters are transmitted to Callan Marine’s project and corporate offices via direct link for updates to be provided in real time.